The Savages Of Drumaroad

Colin Johnston Robb states:

The Savages of Drumaroad have been proved beyond any geographical doubt by legal and other documents to have been one of the main collateral branches of the family and during the darkest of the Penal Days held the faith of their fathers and their Castle at Drumaroad was indeed a sanctuary for all who were oppressed and sought refuge from the furies of those dangerous days.

Dating as far back as 1659, the family name of Savage can be traced to living in the townlands of Drumaroad and Dunturk. In the Pender Census of Ireland 1659, the name of Richard Savage Dromrod (Drumaroad) is listed under the townlands of County Down.

The Savages of Drumaroad were direct descendants with the older Kirkistone branch of the Savages of Ardkeen, which in turn were direct descendants of the Savages of Ards. The story of the mighty Savages of the Ards traces back to the days of the Anglo-Normans when one William Baron le Savage, one of Sir. John De Conrcey's captains, built that formidable citadel, Ardkeen Castle, in the fair Ards in County Down. The Savage's became the dominant family in the picturesque little hills of Uladh, for they gained by sword and retained by it, against all toes, their patrimony and as a staunch Catholic family rebuilt and worshipped in the little chapels of the early Irish saints.

As the roll of generations extended, the Savages mingled their ancient blood with the elite of Irish aristocracy, the cream of Gaels and later in many cases with the new aristocracy of the various plantations.

In this way, in post-Reformation days members of the family conformed to the Protestant faith, while ever so many others still retained with determination the Catholic Faith.

n 1731 William Savage of Audleystown and Kirkistone, was High Sheriff of Downshire.

O'Laverty states: -

The last possessor of Kirkistone Castle of the race of the Savages was William Savage, who, when Sheriff of the County of Down in1731, distinguished himself in discovering and reporting to the Castle [at Dublin] the number of friars in the friary of Drumnacoyle.

The duty of reporting the Franciscan's presence and encroachments lay with the Sheriff of the County, and William Savage of Kirkistone did not shirk his responsibilities.

William Savage was Sheriff of Ards. The following document, with William Savage's signature affixed, which is preserved in the Public Record Office, Dublin states: -

To the Right Honourable the Lord's Committee appointed to inquire into the present state of Popery in the Kingdom of Ireland. In obedience to your lordship's order bearing date the 6th day of the instant November, to me directed, as sheriff of the County of Down, requiring me to return into your lordships an account of what reputed nunneries or friaries, and what number off fryars or nuns are reputed to be in the same respectively. I do therefore humbly certify unto your lordships that, after the strictest inquiries, 1 can find there is but one reputed fryary in the said County of Down, kept at a place called Drumnacoyle, in the said county, within eight miles of Rathfriland, in which there is commonly reputed to be nine fryars. And there is not in the said County of Down any reputed nunnery, nor any nuns. Dated at Kirkistowne, the nineteenth day of November one thousand seven hundred and thirty-one.

W m. SAVAGE

William Savage died A. D. 1733, and was buried in his father's grave at Saul. William Savage was succeeded at Audleystown by his only child, Catherine Savage of Audleystown, who was married to her cousin, William Savage, of Dunturk, third son of Robert Savage of Dromoroad (Drumaroad), who was third son of Patrick Savage of Derry, and greatgrandson of Rowland, Lord Savage, of Portaferry, who died in A. D. 1572.

The will of William Savage of Dunturk is dated A. D. 1755. In the will he mentions his brothers Stephen Savage, Robert Savage, Henry Savage and James Savage, and his sister Jane Norris, alias Savage. He bequeathed to his beloved wife Catherine Savage all the right title, and interest he had in Audleystown.

He made several bequests to the Franciscan and Dominican Convents, in the Diocese of Down, and to each secular priest in the Diocese, five shillings. To his beloved and only son, John Savage, he left all the remainder of his goods, chattels, lands, and tenements of what nature soever, and he appoints his beloved kinsmen, Hugh Savage of Dromoroad (Drumaroad), and James Crolly of Ballgalbeg, his executors. Mrs Catherine Savage of Audleystown was succeeded by her only son, John Savage of Dunturk, and Audleystown.

His will dated A. D. 1773, bequeaths all his leases, bonds, and notes of every kind to be divided between his two daughters, Sarah Hamil, alias Savage, and Jean Crolly, alias Savage, they to pay a certain sum annually to each of his daughters, Amelia Kelly, and Catherine Meriman. To his daughter Angelia he left a cottage, where she then resided, as long as she pleased to occupy it. He appointed his beloved relatives, Roland Savage of Munidranibisk, and John Savage of Lurgancanly his executors.

In a codicil to his will he left his watch to John Savage, of Lurgancanly, and to his grandson, Francis Hamil, a dun filly together with a pair of plate spurs.

Robert Savage of Drumaroad was the third son of Patrick Savage of Derry, and a great grandson of Roland, Lord Savage of Portaferry who died in A. D. 1572.

Robert Savage married twice, by his first wife; he had four sons, Hugh, James, William, and Francis, and two daughters, Shelly (Cecilia), and Elizabeth. By his second wife, Robert had three sons, Thomas, Andrew, and Anthony. The will of Robert Savage of Drumaroad is detailed A. D. 1680. He directs that his body shall be buried in "ye Cathederall Church of Downpatrick".

To his eldest son, Hugh Savage, and his heirs for ever he bequeathed half the town of Tollmacreevie, quarter of the land of Ardfeechan, quarter of Carrowmall, half the town of Ballyblack, quarter of Bankmore, and fifty pounds secured on the mill of Portaferry, lying and being in the barony of Ards; also his saddle grey horse, the lease of Taghcorat, and his interest in the Manor Court of Portaferry.

He also mentions his leases of Dromoroad (Drumaroad) and Dunturk. He mentions his second son, James, his third son, William, and his forth son, Francis, and his "now wife's" children, Thomas, and Andrew Savage, and daughter, Elizabeth. He mentions also his brother, George Savage. In the event of failure of such heirs as he names, he directs that his lands and premises shall be equally divided - a moiety to go to his nephew, Patrick Savage of Ballyvarley, and his heirs, and a moiety between his daughters and their heirs. He appointed his nephew, Patrick Savage of Ballyvarley and "Rowland Savage of ye City of Dublin", to be his executors. He also appointed the following to be overseers of his children: -

My loving brother; John Savage [of Ballyvarley the said Patrick Savage his son [who afterwards resided at Portccferry]; my couzen Patrick Savage of Ballygallgett, and ye .said Rowland his son of Dublin; my couzen William Savage of Rosconor, my brother Luke Savage, and my son Thomas Savage.

His brother John Savage [of Ballyvarley] is to order his burial in a decent manner. The will was signed 19th April A. D. 1680 and sealed with the arms of Savage, six lions rampant, three, two, and one.

What is interesting about this will is that it mentions several members of the Savage family who were presently to take part in the Williamite War, and to be outlawed by King William - viz, Roland Savage of Ballygalget, his own sons, Hugh Savage and Thomas Savage, of Dromoroad (Drumaroad), and his brother, Luke Savage, of Dunturk. Robert Savage of Dromoroad (Drumaroad) died about A. D. 1 G80 and was buried in the old Cathedral of Downpatrick. He was succeeded at Dromoroad (Drumaroad) by his eldest son, Hugh Savage of Dromoroad (Drumaroad).

Hugh Savage, siding with King James II, was outlawed by William III., he seems to be the Hugh Savage mentioned in the will of John Savage of the City of Dublin. He died unmarried, subsequent to the year 1755, for he is appointed by William Savage of Dunturk executor of his Will date circa A. D. 1755.500 In his Will dated A. D. 1742, he leaves to his brother Thomas Savage [living at Portaferry] all his freehold and interest in the Barony of Ards unto the heirs male of his body as the same is limited by his fathers last Will and testament; to his nephew William Savage, £100; to his nieces, Catherine and Frances Savage, £100 each; to his brother Anthony's son, Hugh Savage, £100; all right and interest he has in Ardtole by lease from Lord Kildare to his nephew William Savage; his house and interest thereof Drumaroad (Drumaroad) and Dunturk which be held under "Mr. Ford (Forde) of Seaford (Seaforde) " To his brothers Thomas Savage and William Savage to be equally divided between them.

He mentions that he holds a bond perfected to him by Mr. Edward Trevor of Loughbrickland in trust for Mrs. Lucy Savage of Portaferry. To his sister-in-law Crolly he bequeaths £10, and to his sister-in-law Sarah Savage [probably wife of Frances Savage, afterwards of Dunturk].

To his servant Edward Grimes he left his linen and woollen clothes and his Dun Horse; to his nephew John Crolly all his horses, cows, sheep and household furniture, and to the Popish Clergy of the Diocese of Down the sum of £ 100 to be distributed amongst them as his brother Thomas Savage shall think proper.

He directs that his body is to be:

decently interred along with his father at in the Cathedral Church of Down, at a moderate expense, without pomp and vanity.

Rowland Savage of Drumaroad died on 14th June 1791. He was buried in the ancient burial ground of the Benedictine Abbey of Downpatrick; now the Protestant Cathedral. His son John Savage of Drumaroad married his kinswomen, Ann Savage, a daughter of James Savage of Prospect, Co. Down. John Savage by his wife Ann Savage, of Prospect, had among other issue, Patrick Savage of the Royal Marines; Rowland Savage of Dunmore. Ballynahinch, an officer in the premier line regiment of the British Army, the 1st (Royal Scots) Regiment of the Foot, then commanded by the Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria and was officer of the guard at the Castle on the night the Duchess of Kent died. He was referred to when the writer was a small boy as the "Officer Savage". 5o Another brother of the two officers, George Savage, was the progenitor of the well-known Savage family of Castlewellan, and another brother, James Savage, who died in 1839, aged 95 was the grandfather of the Very. Rev. Charles McKenna, P.P., of Kilmegan Parish between 1929 - 1950.

Colin Johnston Robb states: -

James Savage was selected as a county delegate at the great rally at Tara at the time of Daniel O'Connell."

The first post-Reformation Catholic Church chapel at Drumaroad was supposedly built by Edmund Savage of Drumaroad, who according to his niece Ann Savage, described hire as a gentleman devoted to the Catholic Religion.

The Savages of Dunmore, and Castlewellan, are of the same ilk of the Savage Family domiciled so long at Drumaroad and descended from a great Baron of Ulster and princely families by intermarriage.

References:
Irish News, p2, 6 November 1950
Pender, S. Census of Ireland, p.85, 1659
Savage-Armstrong, George Francis, The Savages of the Ards, pp 170-176, London 1978
O'Laverty, Rev. James, Diocese of Down & Connor Ancient & Modern, pp 75-76, 423, London 1878